Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Chapter 28
A disheveled messenger burst forth through the room full of nobles looking for one man. His master said to make sure Byakuya got the note right away even if the girl wasn't in their grasp yet. The messenger bravely walked up to the captain and handed him the note that he was sure to cause an all out war.
Byakuya briefly read the note before it crumbled to the floor. "Why is it always Rukia?" He whispered. His spiritual pressure flared a little, but that was chalked up to the numerous men who approached him about Rukia tonight. She was in such a high demand that he thought about locking her in an ivory tower or forcing her to choose a man to marry as soon he got his hands on her.
Ukitake noted Byakuya's fleeting flare. Silently, he made his way over to his fellow captain before Byakuya could sneak out. "What's happened now, Byakuya? Don't for a minute think about lying either. I felt your spiritual pressure flutter, and Rukia seems to be conveniently missing from the room." Ukitake stated. He normal was a happy-go-lucky man, but this time he knew that something happened to his beloved "adopted" daughter.
"Nothing to worry about, Ukitake. I need to find two useless soul reapers apparently." Byakuya growled. "Before I leave, I need you to make excuses for Rukia and I. Can you tell them that she fell ill, and that I went to escort her home? I'd hate for rumors to get started."
"Whatever you need, Byakuya. Restu and I will keep the others occupied while you find her. Let me know if you need any help, and I will send Shiro to assist you. You know he'll keep everything quiet with how close he and Rukia have gotten."
With a nod, Byakuya took off after his sister. He decided to ignore the presence of Sasuke and Kenshin a few miles away, but that didn't save the men from not feeling his malicious intent.
"We're so dead. He knows she's missing." Sasuke stated. "Let's go."
"As long as we stay ahead of him, we have nothing to worry about." Kenshin replied. The men dashed off to Squad 10.
Inside the Squad 10 office, Hitsugaya paced the floor while Rangiku was eyeing the two men who were trying to find Rukia. "How could you lose her?" Hitsugaya growled.
"We tried to follow her tracks, but it led us nowhere. So we thought you could track her since you share the same zanpakuto element." Kenshin replied.
"It doesn't always work like that! The two wielders have to have a close bond!"
"Oh, but Captain, you and Rukia are close!" Rangkui said with a wink. "Anyone want some sake while we wait?"
"Matsumoto! There is no drinking on the job! Put the sake away right this minute before I turn all your entire stash to ice." Hitsugaya roared before turning back to the two men. "Any, in most cases the bond has to be between lovers or family, which we do not share."
"But Captain! What about your little ice babies!" Rangiku wailed. Hitsugaya considered murdering his lieutenant right then and there. She kept trying to hug and suffocate him in her ample chest after he told her that he and Rukia were just good friends. Hitsugaya had his sights set on Karin Kurosaki, and Rukia had helped the blossoming relationship along without anyone knowing.
"Are these two for real?" Sasuke quietly asked Kenshin who shrugged.
Once Hitsugaya detangled himself from a pouting Rangiku, he turned to face the men. "Hyorinmaru gave me a clue for finding Rukia, but we need to know what we are walking into."
"That's the other part. We don't know if someone took her or if she left on her own." Sasuke replied. "We were a few feet away from her then one second she was there and the next she disappeared."
"I gathered that earlier. What I don't understand is, why you didn't tell Kuchiki this? Sure, Byakuya will be furious, but Rukia is his main priority. You should know that between him and Ichigo, Rukia is the most protected on in all of the Soul Society. No one is just going to randomly grab her." Hitsugaya concluded.
"She didn't have her zanpakuto at the time. The elders forced her to leave it." A tinge of fear entered Hitsugaya's eyes
"Rukia is a kido expert. Unless there is a small army, she'll be fine." Rangiku stated with all seriousness. Miraculously, her eyes were clear of the sake quickly. Hitsugaya figured that she was putting a front on for these men until she could gauge their trust worthiness. Rukia must have told her that Kenshin was serious about dating her, and Rangiku wanted to make sure than man was worthy.
"Do either of you have any clues as to where she would go?" Hitsugaya asked.
"She's the heir of the Kuchiki Clan and prize of the Soul Society. Everyone is a suspect at this point." Sasuke calmly replied.
"But she did have an occurrence with a man named Akhiro Shiba tonight." Kenshin spoke up. "Rukia wasn't too pleased with the man."
The white-haired captain shook his head in annoyance. "Again, you should have told Kuchiki this - not me!"
"We were slightly afraid of dying by his hand before he'd let us finish explaining ourselves." The men replied.
"That's a fair enough assumption. You did let his little sister disappear right from under your nose!" Hitsugaya growled at the men's incompetence. He knew Rukia could be tricky, but Hitsugaya doubted she knew that she was being followed considering these two men were in competent. The little Kuchiki wouldn't be so reckless, would she? If Kurosaki was with her, the answer would be yes, but not now. He was going to have to wring that strawberry's neck after he found her. Ichigo was in for a rude awakening at his hands.
The snow storm was furious when they stepped out of the office. Hitsugaya looked back at as group making sure they were all bundled up. His hopes were slightly diminishing as the storm worsened. Hyorinmaru found a faint trace of Sode no Shirayuki's spiritual pressure in Rukia. This was going to be more challenging than he thought since Rukia didn't have her zanpakuto with her.
Hitsugaya turned back to the group. "We need to bring Kurosaki in on this before all of you die from the cold."
Sasuke shot Kenshin as curious glanced "He's one of Rukia's good friends." Kenshin replied smoothly.
"He's also your competition." Hitsugaya replied with a smirk. "Ichigo Kurosaki was the savior of the Soul Society multiple times."
Rangiku raised her perfect strawberry-blonde eyebrow at them, but she let her captain's attitude slide. He was concerned for his friend. Rangiku also noticed him slipping a hell butterfly out the window before they left the office. Did Hitsugaya send it to Rukia or Byakuya?
Alone time was all that she wanted. Was it really to much to ask? The nobles still hated her, and the elders were bugging her constantly. Suddenly, a hell butterfly landed on her nose. She smiled when she heard Hitsugaya's voice checking on her, but she was shocked to learn that everyone searching for her.
Rukia let off a small flare of her spiritual pressure so Byakuya and Hitsugaya could come find her. She didn't mean to walk so far away from the house, but the night called to her. The snow and cold was a more welcoming presence that the stuffy nobles and their well-to-do manners. In all honestly, she missed being normal in the World of the Living. At least there, she was Rukia Kuchiki - friend, soul reaper, and student. No pressures were placed upon her. Then she thought about the strawberry. A smile graced her lips.
"Oh, Lady Kuchiki!" A traitorous voice called to her from behind a tree. Rukia's veins ran cold. Of all the people to find her out here, it had to be him.
"I should have blasted you earlier." Rukia growled at her unwanted companion.
"If you did, you'd have been injured in the process along with causing an uproar among the noble houses." A creepy grin appeared on Akhiro's face.
"You obviously missed my first 50 plus years as a Kuchiki then." Rukia told Akhiro with a bored face.
"I heard all about it from Kaien. You were his and Miyako's shining star at work." He countered. The damn man had the gall to bring up again.
"What a bitter little boy you are, Akhiro. Leave Kaien and Miyako out of this." A loud growl of frustration emerged from Akhiro. Rukia rolled her eyes. Apparently, she wasn't acting like the damsel in distress that he was expecting. Was she really supposed to be scared of him? "Go home before you get hurt." She warned him.
"Rukia Kuchiki, you are surrounded. I suggest you agree to come with me willingly." He told her.
A raven-haired eyebrow arched at his insolence. "If I do not?" She asked.
"You will be tied, kidnapped, and forced to marry me." He told Rukia as he walked right up to her. "Our wedding will bring the Shiba Clan to fortune once again!" Akhiro told her with an evil laugh.
The temperature dropped. She had no intention of being married to this money loving pig!
"You leave me no choice, Rukia." Akhiro nodded to his men hidden in the trees.
Before Rukia even had a chance to blast them with kido. A wave of pink petals danced round her acting as a barrier. Smirking, Rukia looked at Akhiro before he was attacked. "You picked the wrong family to mess with, Shiba. But you don't even deserve that name! The Shiba Clan is full of heroes, and you dishonor it.
Senbonzakura's petals attacked Akhiro causing him to submit to the ground in a bloody pulp. Byakuya's deadly voice came from behind Akhiro as he laid on the ground in agony. "No one, and I mean no one, threatens my pride and gets away with it."
"You should finish the job, Kuchiki." Akhiro gritted trough his teeth as the Kuchiki siblings watched him.
"I'm not going to kill you." Byakuya stated. A small, rare smile appeared on his lips. "I'm going to let Kukaku have her way with you. You'll probably pray that you're dead before the end of it, wishing that you'd die by my Senbonzakura."
Turning his glaze from the fallen man, Byakuya checked Rukia over for any damage. "I'm fine, brother. He didn't lay a hand on me." Rukia told him.
"You left without leaving a note." He chided.
"I wasn't expecting to be kidnapped!" Rukia countered. "I just wanted to be alone. That place was sucking the life out of me." Silently, Byakuya agreed with her, but he couldn't tell Rukia that. She needed to learn how to deal with those situations better since she would be clan leader.
"As punishment for your behavior, you are sentenced to two additional dates this week. One is Ciel Genpu he's already approached me about courting you. The elders will not let you refuse a date with him. The other is Sasuke Shihoin. He's been keeping an eye on you all night so that's his reward."
Rukia's mouth dropped to the floor. Did Byakuya really just use me as a reward? No freaking way!
"If you don't shut your mouth, flies will be able to get in." He scolded her.
"But, brother!" Rukia pouted. "I was just about kidnapped, and you're making me date more people!"
"This is no negotiable, Rukia. You should never have left the party. Now, please make your way back to manor. I had Ukitake make excuses for you in case you are missed."
Giving in to defeat, Rukia replied, "Yes, brother." Rukia trailed off as she made her way back home. Least he's not making me go out with them tonight.
"It's all coming together." Byakuya stated as he watched Rukia leave.
Out of nowhere, a red-headed and black haired blur landed on her. "What the hell?" She asked loudly. Looking down she noticed the two soul reapers who had been stalking her the whole night. "Where is Toshiro?" She asked
"I'm right here." He replied behind here.
"Good. I need you to check on the Kurosakis for me. I don't trust that Akhiro didn't send men after Ichigo." Rukia turned to look at her white haired friend.
"He can handle himself." Hitsugaya told her. "But I had some business to discuss with him anyway, so I will be happy to make sure they are all safe." He replied with a smirk.
Rukia saw Rangiku out of her perished vision, and she ran to hug her. "Can you to escort me back to the manor, please. We have a lot that needs to be discussed." Rangiku nodded yes.
"Now, it was time for the two men who sat in the pile of snow. "I want to thank you for being diligent in trying to find me." Rukia told them. "Kenshin, you will get another date as a reward for your efforts. Sasuke, Byakuya has seen fit to reward you with a date as well. They shall occur in three days time if anything doesn't change." She informed the men.
Once her task was over, Rukia and Rangiku headed back towards the manor. A bunch of girl talk was needed to sort out these stupid feelings in her head.
Hitsugaya nearly blew a gasket when he learned that Byakuya used his sister as a reward. All rational thought in his brain left. "Ichigo Kurosaki, I am going to murder you if you do not get your act together." He promised in a low whisper.
Instead of relying on anyone else to deliver his message and fulfilling his promise to Rukia, Hitsugaya went to go to the World of the Living and visited the Kurosakis. He flew out of the senkaimon and landed on the roof of the nearest build.
Searching for the familiar spiritual pressure, he followed the trail to their house rather than grab a gigai from Uahara. This trip wasn't going to take long, even if he had to tie Ichigo up and bring him back to the Soul Society. Rukia damn well will be happy if he had any say in the matter.
Karin was inside watching the soccer game when she felt the seat next to her get taken. She looked over to see a familiar white-haired captain. "Toshiro, what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to kick your brother's ass." Hitsugaya simply stated as a small vein ticked on his forehead.
"You'll have to get in line." She replied with a cocky smirk. "I've been torturing him for the past month, even Yuzu has helped. We all miss Rukia. Dad's been crying to the poster of mom way too much since she's left, and Ichigo has been looking like a lost puppy. He says he's fine, but we both know he's not. A few days ago was the first time I've seen him smile in a month!"
"Speaking of Rukia, she is also why I am here. Some idiotic suitor gave her the impression that he may send men here."
"Oh yeah! We had some strange idiots earlier, but Kisuke and Dad took care of them."
"Good. Now for your brother..." He growled.
"Toshiro, he's not going to get his ass in gear -anything short of Rukia receiving an actual proposal will just causing him to whine and mope."
"Damn fool! He may loose her sooner than he thinks then." Hitsugaya warned Karin.
"Don't look at me! I've told him that plenty of times! Rukia was the best thing to happen to him, and he's not fighting for what he wants." The black haired girl ecstatically pointed out. Ichigo was beyond stupid in her opinion.
"He has a real does have a chance of losing her soon. The elders keep pushing nobles on her - not to mention Byakuya's back up plan!" Hitsugaya told her with a heavy heart. Kenshin was a nice man and a decent soul reaper from all the asking around he's done. But the he was still in love with his wide who was killed on his mission in the World of the Living. That's why he stayed disappeared for so long.
"What why?" Karin asked shocked. She figured Ichigo and Rukia would make up sooner than later. "Where the hell did this back up plan come from?" She yelled loud enough to cause Ichigo to run down the stairs.
"What the hell is this commotion about!" Ichigo asked as he barreled down the steps. Once he noticed Karin was fine, he realized that Hitsugaya was talking to his sister awfully close on the couch.
"Toshiro!" Ichigo growled.
Yuzu came in from the kitchen hearing everyone yelling. "Hitsugaya what are you doing here? Are you finally here to take Karin for a date!" She asked happily.
Ichigo's scowl darkened, but they all realize something. Hitsugaya was in his shihakusho and haori. Three sets of eyes turned to look at her. "Yuzu, you can see Toshiro?"
"Of course, I can! But why is he dressed in that black robe with a sword on his back?" The soft spoken Kurosaki asked.
Before any of them could began to address Yuzu's growing power issue, the living room door swung open revealing a vary scared Hanataro. He walked over to stand if front of Ichigo before he began to read a decree in his hand. "Ichigo Kurosaki, you have has been issued a challenge. Therefore, you are hereby summoned to appear at Kuchiki Manor for your trial. If you do not show up, you give up your right to return to the Soul Society and to see Rukia Kuchiki until your natural life ends."
"The hell I am!" Ichigo snatched the edict away from Hanataro.
"I'm sorry Ichigo, but those are the rules. The Head-Captain Kyoraku and Captain Kuchiki will be present to determine the outcome of the challenge." Hanataro told him softly.
"So your saying if I ever want to see Rukia again, I have to do this?" A shell-shocked Ichigo asked. He couldn't believe that Byakuya would do this.
"That's damn well what he's saying Kurosaki!" Hitsugaya yelled causing everyone but Karin to flinch. The black-haired girl just kept a smirk on her face. Sighing, Ichigo balled folded up the edict and started to head up the stairs. "Oh, no you don't! We need to go now before Byakuya sends any more of these out!" He pulled Ichigo to the door, the he realized the strawberry stopped.
"Another? Are you telling me I have really competition?" He asked. Ichigo always thought the Rukia would chose him in the end - even if she was a hard-headed midget.
"Yes, Kurosaki! Why the hell do you think I'm here? I'd actually like to see you two end up together!" Hitsugaya told him. His voice laced with full seriousness that Ichigo couldn't doubt his intentions.
Recognition finally appeared in Ichigo's eyes. "Let's go kick their asses!" He said as he sprinted out of the door leaving Hitsugaya in the dust.
Karin walked up behind Toshiro and wrapped an arm around his should. "Do you think he'll make it?" She asked him.
"It took a month for us to even get them to talk together. She loves him, even if she's mad at him."
"Then there is hope." Karin lend up to give Hitsugaya a kiss on the cheek. "How about next time you're around we go on a date? It's been boring only getting to talk to you."
"I thought that was my line?" He asked with a laughed.
Yuzu admired the couple from the doorway. Who knew Rukia's matchmaking would spread out to their friends and family. Now, if her brother would just keep his head on straight!
Thank you for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting! I love hearing feedback from y'all!
BleachPower: Thank you for the review and the complement! :D I adore Rukia, and her bankai form is AWESOME! Is this what you have been waiting for lol?
That1person: Let's just say Rukia won't really be catching a break till the end of the story from here on out lol! Also... Please don't kill me! :D